Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss: Does it Really Work?

PUBLISHED 18 September 2018

It seems there's always a new alternative health trend or natural weight loss fad out there. While you may have known someone a couple years ago who couldn't stop talking about drinking bulletproof coffee for weight loss, we bet you now have a friend who will drink a shot of Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) "with the mother" every morning for its supposed health, detox and weight loss benefits. Does drinking apple cider vinegar for weight loss really work? Is it safe to include apple cider vinegar (ACV) into your daily diet and weight loss plan?

Does drinking apple cider vinegar really help with weight loss? What are the weight loss benefits of taking apple cider vinegar? Why do people drink it? Apple cider vinegar has been used as a homeopathic folk cure and natural remedy for centuries, but mainstream medical science has also put forth some compelling research to support the detox and weight loss benefits of apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is high in acetic acid, a short-chain fatty acid that has been shown to promote weight loss in numerous human and animal studies in a few different, important ways. A dose of acetic acid is not only safe but actually good for most people, and studies have indicated that the compound has even helped treat and fight the onset of Type II Diabetes in some cases.

Like drinking water, several studies show that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar acts as a natural appetite suppressant, helping you feel full faster and longer after drinking it. Feeling full faster may help you eat less, ultimately causing you to lose weight a little more easily. Supermodel Heidi Klum, also a fan of the apple cider vinegar diet and detox plan, claims that even just the smell apple cider vinegar makes her feel less hungry!

Apple Cider Vinegar Diet & Weight Loss: ACV Speeds Up Metabolism

Along with naturally suppressing appetite, health researchers have found that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar has also been shown to improve and speed up your metabolism by increasing the enzyme AMPK. AMPK is an important enzyme that helps the body and the liver process fats and sugars more efficiently.

ACV Burns Stored Fat & Decreases Belly Fat

To put it shortly, acetic acid and fat do not get along. Along with helping your body process fat and sugar more efficiently, the acetic acid in pure apple cider vinegar (ACV) has also been shown to decrease stored fat throughout the body, including stubborn and hard to lose belly fat. Increasing the amount of acetic acid in your diet through the daily intake of apple cider vinegar may help reduce the build-up of fat in your body.

What kind of apple cider vinegar is best? Odds are, if you have a friend drinking apple cider vinegar for weight loss, they're probably drinking Bragg's apple cider vinegar, the most famous brand of pure, raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized organic ACV "with the mother." What does "with the mother" mean? To put it simply, "with the mother" refers to unprocessed apple cider vinegar that still contains the original strands of proteins, enzymes and friendly probiotic bacteria used to ferment apple cider and turn it into vinegar in the first place. The strands of "mother" living in pure apple cider vinegar give Bragg's and other organic apple cider vinegar a murky, cloudy appearance. If your apple cider vinegar looks transparent and you can see through it, it probably doesn't contain the "mother."

Most forms of apple cider vinegar you will find in the stores have been filtered and pasteurized, or heated to high temperatures to kill all bacteria, good and bad. Made from organic crushed apples and therefore free from pesticides, Bragg's apple cider vinegar is raw and unpasteurized, so it more closely resembles the apple cider vinegar used as a homeopathic remedy in the old days. The good bacteria that makes up the "mother" are probiotic, meaning they promote good digestion and gut health, factors that have been shown to influence weight loss. While you don't have to drink Bragg's brand in particular, for the most health, detox and weight loss benefits it is best to choose a raw, organic apple cider vinegar "with the mother."

With its fat burning, diabetes fighting, appetite suppressing and metabolism boosting benefits, it probably sounds like there are no reasons NOT to include apple cider vinegar into your diet. But is apple cider vinegar safe to drink everyday? There are some notable health risks and side effects associated with drinking apple cider vinegar on a daily basis.

As its name suggests, acetic acid is an acid, meaning it can have some unpleasant side effects when it comes into regular contact with tooth enamel and the delicate lining of the throat and stomach. It is always best to rinse any apple cider vinegar residue from the teeth, throat and stomach by drinking some water directly after drinking ACV. For best results, limit your intake to 1-3 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar a day. While small amounts of apple cider vinegar have been shown to be safe for most people, it is a good idea to stop drinking apple cider vinegar if you experience any negative side effects.

The Safe Way to Add Apple Cider Vinegar to your daily diet

Drinking apple cider vinegar can be an effective way to promote weight loss and has numerous health and detox benefits. While some people have claimed to have lost weight just by taking apple cider vinegar, for best results daily apple cider vinegar supplementation should be accompanied by a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise.

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